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Monday, April 21, 2008

Motorists irked by parking lot takeover - The Star

April 21, 2008 by Lim Chia Ying

THE cordoned off parking lots encircling the First Subang project at the SS15 Subang Jaya commercial area has irked many road users and the business community in the area.

They said the parking lots are meant for public use but with the ongoing construction, the side lots have been sealed off with signboards and tape and some taken up by the contractor's cranes and tractors.

Following complaints from the business community and residents, Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) president Adnan Md Ikhsan had fined the developer RM25,000 upon discovering that the council had not granted permission to the developer to use the parking bays.

Adnan confirmed that the developer had written a letter to MPSJ on March 4 applying for permission to use the parking lots to park their cranes.

The council had then convened a meeting on March 12 together with the developer, the business community and a few residents representatives.

At the meeting. the residents did not agree to the developer's request.

Tommy Teh, a business owner who attended the meeting, said it was not right for the developer to extend their working area to public space.

“They are carry out internal works and should not go beyond their compound.

“The parking lots are public facilities,” Teh said.

Residents Committee (JKP) Zone 1 deputy chairman Theresa Ratnam Thong questioned as to whether any traffic impact assessment had been carried out before the project was approved.

She said residents were not for the project since they were not consulted on the matter.

When contacted, Adnan said his officers had issued a stop-work order and two compounds of RM25,000 and RM500 had be issued to the developer on Wednesday morning.

“We never granted them approval to use the road although they had applied,” Adnan said.

He said the developer was required to do the remedial works like adjusting the hoarding, which was causing a danger to cars and passers-by as well as ensuring earth that had fallen on the public road was cleared.

“They also need to clear materials and cranes that are on the public road.

“With this stop-work order, nothing other than remedial work is allowed and, after this is properly done, they can to continue with their work,” Adnan said.

He also said the developer had submitted the traffic impact assessment and other required reports during the planning process.

TitiJaya Group of Companies director Charmaine Lim said the machinery placed by the roadside was to help in fixing and repairing the hoarding as a safety precaution.

“Once the hoarding is fixed, we will remove the mahenery,” Lim said.

Lim also said the company would need to work out a few things with MPSJ to seek a solution.

“Once we have fulfilled the conditions imposed by the authority, we will apply to rent the car park space.

“We are a responsible developer and want to sort out this problem,” she said.

Lim claimed that the company had submitted all the reports and said the surrounding roads were wide enough for two-way traffic.

“Currently, we have five levels of car park, one of which would be opened for public use.

“In fact, we added two extra levels but the council only required us to have three car park levels,” she said.

Meanwhile, some in the SS15 business community felt that since the development is now proceeding, the developer should be given a grace period to continue work on the basement car park, as they do not want to see yet another abandoned project.

They proposed a cut-off time be given and that the council take action if the developer violated any of the by-laws.

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Roles and responsibilities of councillors

Roles and responsibilities of councillors

As part of the local council administrative system, councillors carry these roles and responsibilities.

As a committee member who makes decisions on approval for applications like planning, development, and licensing. Yet at the same time their actions should not be contradictory and against the policy decided upon by the local council for the public interest.

To advice the local government on matters relevant to their expertise and profession

To represent the people and the local community in matters pertaining to their living condition at the respective local council.

As a mediator between the community and the local council and to serve as the patron for their residents association.

To relay the feedback and response given by the local community on the quality of service given by the local council.

To be policy and decision makers. To draw a set of local by-laws as a guide for administrative purposes in solving the local issues and on how to give best service to the people.

To draw the policy to determine the direction of the local council and the direction has to augur well with the state and central government’s policies and at the same time meet what the people want.

As spokesman for the local council to ensure that policies drawn at the local authority are accepted by the local community.

To get a response from the community if there is any abuse of misuse of power or funds by the local council.

To encourage public participation on activities and programs organised by the local council.

Appointment of the councillors

The Local Government Act 1976

Section 10 (1) - the local authority shall consist of the mayor or president and not less than eight not more than 24 other councillors to be appointed by the state authority.

residing in the respective local council

Have wide experience and knowledge in local government affairs

Achieved distinction in any profession, commerceor industry

Able to represent the interest of the community they are serving

Editor’s Note: If you have any comments or views on this issue of councillors, please write to us at metro@thestar.com.my.